Bourbon & Bands

A few days ago, I was preparing to go up to the Catskills for the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival. My first thoughts weren't about what clothes to pack, but what alcohol I was going to drink. Back when I had a walkman, it was what cassettes to bring with and then CD's with my compact disc player. Now that I enjoy a nip or two, it was what booze. For days I was asking myself "what do you drink for two days and not get sick of ...or from"?

Here's what my criteria was on deciding which bottle to bring:
1. Can I drink it with nothing added to it?
2. Can it be mixed with simple beverages to create another drink?

With those two questions and the fact it's National Bourbon Heritage Month, I decided on a bottle of bourbon...but which one. That started another slew of questions to myself since I have a theory about bourbons- different ones are good for different moods.

• Feeling like getting into an altercation- George T. Stagg, Hirsch 16, Old Grand Dad (80 or 100 proof)
• Sitting on a porch and watching the day pass by- Blantons, Sam Houston
• Had a bad day and want to numb yourself- Basil Hayden, Pappy Van Winkle 12 or 15, Bookers
  
• Going to a music festival and plan on slowly drinking for two days- BULLEIT

On my way in to work, I made a pit stop at Brooklyn Tattoo to purchase my first flask in the hopes of using it in good health all weekend. If you plan on drinking your own hooch, might as well bring it with you in style. Even though I was planning on putting Bulleit in it first, I had a change of heart when the night's Bourbon tasting had leftovers. The lovely woman who hosted the Buffalo Trace tasting had a double pour of Blantons left and gave it to me...eventually I decided not to drink it at work and took it with me- I can't waste good stuff. At the same time, there was the most amazing Cote-du-Nuits Village Rouge from Desertoux-Ferrand which I couldn't leave behind and poured that into an empty vitamin water bottle.

I didn't get to my hotel till almost 2 am due to a few unexpected factors in my travels. First, I missed the stop in Monticello, but got to witness a verbal confrontation over a seat. It was one of the most brilliant scenes. A woman had put her bag on the seat in front of me to move there since it was the emergency row exit and had more leg room. Before she was able to sit there, another woman walked over, picked up her stuff and basically threw it back at her saying she couldn't hold seats. Mind you, it was an empty bus! The word motherfucker and bitch got tossed around quite a bit, but my favorite was when the woman who just sat in the seat said "Smack your motherfuckin' eyes straight...you will be seeing straight." I have of course captured this on tape for your listening pleasure. I'm a bit bummed that I didn't get the part where she called her a googly eyed bitch, but I'm sure this will make you laugh.


The bus pulled over about 10 minutes later so the driver could get a cup of coffee and that's when the two women walked off the bus and the googly eyed one got punched in the face. It's also when I realized I had missed my stop. Lucky for me, there was a car service right there with a very nice man who was willing to take me to the hotel. Yay! Finally at the hotel I could relax and started to drink that lovely Cote-du-Nuits, take some fun pictures on Celeste's imac and gear up for Saturday.

We were getting a late start on going to the festival on Saturday and didn't want that to hold me back from starting my Bulleit challenge...to leave Sunday night with an empty bottle. I was on vacation after all, so thought that Blantons would be a terrific chaser after breakfast. After finishing up what was in the flask, I was ready to open up the Bulleit. When starting to drink early in the afternoon, the trick is to start easy and then work your way up. A layering of beverages if you will. First drink plenty of water, then purchase a bottle of ice tea. Drink half of the tea and then pour the Bourbon into the bottle. Drink the combination while sitting in the hotel room. It's also good to try and put on your make-up while drinking your spiked iced tea...really.

My first day on the festival grounds I didn't know what to expect. I only came with one flask filled and a small amount of my spiked tea. If only I had known that it was a free for all. One flask was not enough and I have to give thanks to my friend Daniel who was drinking the same thing and gave me a refill while rockin' out to Les Savy Fav. According to him, it was much classier to drink out of a flask than out of a water bottle. It was nice to know I wasn't alone in my drinking quest and had many people to share in the joys and tom-foolery that goes along with a steady stream of hooch. Even if you weren't drinking, you had to join in the fun. That's why I created this album for you to view of what happens when you are having a good time...

The next day, I didn't want to make the same rookie mistake and loaded up on two bottles of spiked iced tea and a full flask. Better safe than sorry is my motto. I also picked up a Fuente cigar on my way over. I was preparing to have an old man moment by the lake. Cigar in one hand...flask in the other. Nothing like sitting next to a lake, feeling the light breeze, smoking a great stoogie and sipping on some spiked tea. While my friends were running off to see bands, I basked in the sun.

Back inside, minus one iced tea bottle, I spent the next two hours watching bands until it was time for some food. This is where I noticed the fresh lemonade stand...a perfect background for my bourbon. The key to long term drinking is to thin it out otherwise you will wind up in a very bad state. Lemonade + Bulleit = Delicious. I also want to make note that it gave me super human air hockey powers.

By the time I was finished with my lemonade, Michal showed up and Celeste and I went off to the car for a re-load. It was with mixed pleasure and disappointment that I found there to be no more Bulleit. I was happy to have my second bottle of iced tea and still have a little bit left in my flask.

I went back into Kutchers with a feeling of MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Thank you to all those who helped by taking swigs off my flask, poured some bourbon into their drink and contributed to a very fun weekend.